Bridal Bouquets, Flowers, Table Centrepieces
You can do your bouquet yourself. But don't be over ambitious. The simpler your idea, the easier for you to accomplish on your own. |
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Long trailing bouquets are very hard without the know how, but a bunch of large flowers tied tightly and the stem wrapped with wire edged ribbon looks stunning.
Markets often have fresh flower stalls, and you can pick up a selection of suitable blooms from a market, the day before, or on the morning, and keep them in a refrigerator (keeps them fresh) until you need them.
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You can always ask a florist to construct your dream bridal bouquet for you, and you or a talented friend or relation can construct simple posies of flowers in coordinating colours for your bridesmaids. |
Men's Buttonholes
Boutonnieres for the male members of the wedding party can be made from a single flower of the same type that is in the bridesmaids' flowers, with a sprig of fern and a pearl headed pin (pin for fastening to the lapel). Once made (preferably on the morning of the wedding day, or the evening before) keep in the refrigerator, an egg carton lined with damp tissues makes a good boutonniere holder and transport device!
Table Centrepieces
Floral table centrepiece equipment can be purchased from craft shops. You can make these on your own as well, using plastic bottom pieces with holder spikes moulded in and some water retaining hard foam (there are several sorts around, and they go by different brand names).
(DIAGRAM to come)
A long tapered dinner candle can be poked into the centre of the foam first. Around this, several large blooms of the same type that are in the bridesmaids' flowers can be poked in, to cover the foam. The rest of the foam can then be covered with "filler" plant material, such as pieces of honeysuckle or jasmine, if in season, or other free garden foliage like ivy.
My parents took to leafy rear laneways with a pair of secateurs and came home with a lovely bag full of green things to use in the centrepieces. I had a late summer early Autumn wedding.
Small flowers with no stems, such as camellia or frangipani can be used, if a piece of florists wire (again, available from craft stores) is carefully poked up the base of the flower and secured to the base of the bloom with a small piece of green florists tape (extra sticky stuff). They should be placed onto the foam tucked low amongst the foliage, so that the wire does not show!
Alternatively, a large thick candle can be decorated with some ivy, honeysuckle or jasmine pinned around the base with dressmaking pins. Less fussy foliage if you're not a flower or garden type.
More non-floral alternatives:
Pretty bowls or glasses filled with sand, shells or glass beads will support a candle. Be careful you don't use anything inflammable as a candle anchor.
Medium sized candelabra. Wreath of artificial flowers. Small crystal candle holders x 3 (odd numbers work best). Helium filled balloons on ribbon anchored by cutely wrapped sandbag, or a sandbag hidden in a flower pot or bowl and topped with scrunched tissue paper, confetti, glass beads or foil shreds. Long burning or large candles, grouped together, different colours and sizes together look amazing. Anchor artificial flowers to a single large candle with dressmaking pins.
(INSERT DIAGRAMS)
Please don't combine balloons and candles, think twice about using balloons if guests will be smoking. Nothing shatters nerves more than some idiot popping balloons with lit cigarettes.
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